1/20/22 Ashe County, NC – Ambulance Stolen From Rescue Squad Unattended Garage – Man Breaks Window – Steals Ambulance – Man Breaks Into Home With Ambulance In Front – Captured During Breaking And Entering

January 20, 2022

www.ashepostandtimes.com

While the roads were still snowy from the winter storm, the Ashe County Sheriff’s Department tracked down a stolen ambulance the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 18.

Austin Alberto Hernandez, 24, West Jefferson, was arrested in the early hours of Jan. 18 by the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office which charged him with three felonies and one misdemeanor.

Ashe County Detention Center Captain Linda Carrow said Hernandez was charged with first degree burglary, breaking/entering, larceny after a breaking/entering and misdemeanor injury to personal property.

According to the incident report by West Jefferson Police Department officer Emmett Friesland, the officer saw an ambulance turning left from U.S. 221 onto N.C. 163 at 2:43 a.m., even though no medic calls had been made in that particular direction.

Although the officer wasn’t able to catch up to the ambulance due to snowy road conditions, Friesland called the county dispatch and confirmed that no calls were made that would need the ambulance, according to the report.

Friesland reported that he headed to the Ashe County Rescue Squad to make sure no ambulances were missing and upon arrival, found the far left bay door open and one of the ambulances gone. Further investigation found a window had been broken out of the bay door. Since the ambulance was seen driving in the direction of Wilkes County, Friesland notified Wilkes authorities of the vehicle.

According to the report, Officer Jacob Bledsoe and Sgt. Zack Volger of the ACSO followed the fresh ambulance tracks in the snow, but were called to a nearby breaking and entering in progress, where they discovered the ambulance and Hernandez.

Hernandez was found when a breaking and entering in progress was called in by residents of Nettle Knob Road who stated the individual was still inside their basement. The residents then reported that an ambulance was parked in front of their home.

Hernandez also faces charges of no operator’s license, felony possession of marijuana, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule III controlled substance possession of marijuana up to one-half ounces, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance and possession of marijuana paraphernalia in Ashe and a charge of failing to wear a seatbelt in the front seat in Wilkes.

Hernandez is currently being held at the Ashe County Detention Center under a $250,000 secured bond.